April 28, 2014

Monday's Faculty Meeting

JoAnn Kite from the district business office will be presenting information on district insurance updates. This is an important meeting, so we will postpone our fourth Monday technology PD meeting until May 12th.

Hixson High Five Awards

This is a busy and fast-paced time of year. Still I ask that you take 15 minutes to recognize students, who may not otherwise be recognized, for their readiness, respect, and responsibility.  Students really do value and benefit from this personal feedback.  Click here to read more information about the High Five Award.  Click here to e-mail Mrs. Davis your nominee. She will need to receive this on or before 5/9/14.

8th Grade Recognition PowerPoint

Last year, as a school, we contributed to a PowerPoint slideshow that ran a few times before 8th Grade Recognition began. This year, I would like to do the same thing. Essentially, each student's picture is on a slide and next to the picture is a list of accomplishments or qualities we would like to recognize. Click here to see last year's.

The time we spend on this is valuable to our students, their parents, and our program. All of us have editing access, so please Click here to contribute. Thanks to Jason Heisel and Kyle Anderson for pulling this together for us. If you have any questions, please let me know.

Track Day

• Thanks to Coach G for last week's e-mail regarding Track Day. 
• We will gather for lunch after dismissal for our annual Qdoba buffet. (This is our Cinco-de-Mayo-Teacher-Appreciation-Lunch-Even-Though-It's-Neither-Cinco-de-Mayo-nor-Teacher-Appreciation-Week lunch. It really only worked out that way my first year, but since a burrito sounds good after a morning at Track Day it's a tradition I've kept nonetheless.)
• After our lunch, we'll have at least two hours of work time, and I suggest that departments determine how they will organize that time. If you have any questions or if I can be helpful, please let me know.

This week I will be out of the building on Tuesday at Crossroads. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, this will be my last full day away. I will begin Wednesday off campus at a curriculum meeting.

April 21, 2014

It was a beautiful weekend, and I hope you are able to enjoy the time in ways meaningful for your and those important to you.

8th Grade Recognition PowerPoint
Last year, as a school, we contributed to a PowerPoint slideshow that ran a few times before 8th Grade Recognition began. This year, I would like to do the same thing. Essentially, each student's picture is on a slide and next to the picture is a list of accomplishments or qualities we would like to recognize. Click here to see last year's.

The time we spend on this is valuable to our students, their parents, and our program. All of us have editing access, so please Click here to contribute. Thanks to Jason Heisel and Kyle Anderson for pulling this together for us. If you have any questions, please let me know.

Hiring Next Year
Although Dr. Stryhal and I are working together on hiring for next year, it makes sense that she take the lead with this because she will be responsible for the support and evaluation of any new teacher. Therefore, you may be receiving e-mails from her regarding filling our current opening in 7th grade mathematics. Dr. Stryhal and I speak often, and we will take time to discuss what might be best for team, department, and faculty during the hiring process.

Google+

If you've joined Google+ Hixson Staff Community since the last Network Blog post and faculty meeting, you will have seen some dialogue regarding next year's decisions for 1:1. If not, Click here to check it out today. 

Track Day

• Thanks to Coach G for last week's e-mail regarding Track Day. 
• We will gather for lunch after dismissal for our annual Qdoba buffet. (This is our Cinco-de-Mayo-Teacher-Appreciation-Lunch-Even-Though-It's-Neither-Cinco-de-Mayo-nor-Teacher-Appreciation-Week lunch. It really only worked out that way my first year, but since a burrito sounds good after a morning at Track Day it's a tradition I've kept nonetheless.)
• After our lunch, we'll have at least two hours of work time, and I suggest that departments determine how they will organize that time. If you have any questions or if I can be helpful, please let me know.

This week, I will be working diligently to catch up on my iObservation evaluations and on my curriculum work with Dr. Simpson. Therefore, although I will be in the building on Monday and Tuesday, I will be (hopefully very) focused on one of these two projects. I will be out of the building all day on Wednesday. This work with evaluations and curriculum are both important, and I regret that I am behind. 

I hope we have an excellent week together and with our students.

April 14, 2014

Here are a few quick updates:

Monday's Faculty Meeting
I only have a few agenda items for our faculty meeting. These will be brief. One involves your completing a survey to support two of your colleagues in graduate school, so please bring a device on which you can complete this survey.

iObservation: Domains 2-4
There are four domains in the iObservation evaluation instrument. Domain 1 includes 41 strategies that relate to insruction. Domains 2-4 are relate to planning, reflection, and professionalism. In order to have summatives ready by May, Drs. Miller and Roberts and I worked together Friday to begin scoring faculty members who are on cycle in those domains. If you have set your iObservation account to send e-mail notifications, you may begin receiving these as we complete our scoring.

Google+
If you've joined Google+ but not have joined the Hixson Staff Community page then you may be missing out, Click here to check it out today. 

Dr. Stryhal Returns
Dr. Stryhal will visit again on April 24th. Thank you for all the ways you are making her feel welcome. I know that she remains excited to join our community.

April 7, 2014

Was it me or did last week seem very long? Whether seemingly long or short, I know it was hard work for all of us. Thank you for your focus and diligence. And . . . here we again, week two of MAP testing.

Field Trip Money Reminder
If you are collecting for field trips, please make sure that you bring any money you have collected to the office before 3:30pm at the end of each day. Our end-of-the-year field trips are more expensive than in the past, so please be sure to get any funds you collect to the office for safe storage.

Dueling Pianos
The PTO is sponsoring a dueling pianos fundraiser on Friday, May 2nd. The funds raised will support Rachel's Challenge and teacher grants. I am sure this will be fun and profitable! Click here for more information.

Dr. Stryhal Returns!
I know Stacie Stryhal appreciates all of the ways we have been welcoming to her. She's asked to visit again, so you will see her in the building on April 10th.

As for me, this week I will visit Crossroads for the entire day on Wednesday, April 9th. This will be my first all-day visit to Crossroads since I was hired.

Have a great week!